By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Badagry Sub-region Master Plan |
Minister of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State, to hold the final stakeholder's meeting on public review of the Badagry sub-region Master Plan, concerned citizens question irregularities in that Master Plan.
The final stakeholder meeting is to hold on August 8, 2024, at Buba Marwa auditorium, Lagos State University Ojo, campus.
At the release of the Badagry Master Plan by early July, various Badagrians have come up with various backlash that there are several irregularities in the master as to the criteria that were used to determine where should be only residential and places that were supposed to be for Mixed use.
At the town planning office at Badagry GRA, despite the low turnout, various Badagrians have documented their discontent about the irregularities in the Master Plan. Some point out that several communities were omitted in the Master Plan and that more recognition should be given to Ogu Communities.
Badagry is known to be the only local government in Lagos State that is dominated by Ogu people, who have lived in the area for almost a thousand years. Before now, the previous Badagry Master Plan had placed over 90% of Badagry on Lagos State acquisitions allocated for agricultural use. The current Master Plan has further improved on it by further allocating most parts of Badagry for specific uses.
The purposes are: Mixed use, Industry, Hospital, Deep Sea port, Residential, Open Space, Swamp, Cemetery, Institutional, Multifunctional, Ecotourism, Agriculture, Educational, and Place of worship.
An indigen who spoke with News Peddlers said, " I commend the efforts of those who worked on the relased Master Plan but the same conditions that have made the whole of Apa, part of Gbaji, and Imeke Residential should make indinous settlements in Ogu Communities Residential, due to the fact that Badagry is known to be a cultural society. If the major parts of indigenous settlements in Ogu Communities are not made residential just as the Awori dominated, it may lead to total loss of cultures and identity of Ogu people in Badagry in the near future.
"This is not to mean that all communities in Badagry should be made residential, but the ancient settlements in these communities should be considered residential to preserve their culture."
Another indigen, said there is a need to make Mowo-Ikoga Road a double line, so that BRT buses can be made available to people living along the axis.
A resident who was at the Master Plan review sentre said, Why should the whole of Gbanko be made Ecotourism, Knowing that there are indigenous people living in the area, does that mean that the government has the plans to relocate them, as no one will be given a permit to have a residential property there.